90个你不能不掌握的英文谚语.docx 5页

idiom1.Toeathumblepie–toadmityourerrorandapologize忍气吞声——承认自己的错误并道歉Afterhiscandidatehadlosttheelection,theboastfulcampaignmanagerhadtoeathumblepie.在他的候选人竞选失败后，这位自负的竞选经理人只能忍气吞声。2.Apiginapoke–anitemyoupurchasewithouthaveseen;adisappointment袋里子的猪——一件不靠谱的商品，一件令人失望的事Themailorderbicyclethatmynephewboughtturnedouttobeapiginapoke,andheisnowtryingtogethismoneyback.我侄子邮购的那辆自行车原来是件劣质货于是他现在正在尝试自己的钱找回来。3.Aflashinthepan–promisingatthestartbutthendisappointing盘子里的闪光——昙花一现Therookiehitmanyhomerunsinspringtraining,butoncetheseasonbeganheprovedtobeaflashinthepan.在春季训练中，这位新手击出了好多次本垒打，但真正的赛季一开始他就怂了。4.Topouroilontroubledwaters–tomakepeace,tocalmsomeonedown把油浇在混水上——平息风波，使某人镇定下来WhenItriedtopouroilontroubledwaters,boththeangryhusbandandhiswifestoppedtheirquarrelandbegantoattackme.当我试图平息这对夫妇间的争执时，愤怒的丈夫和他的妻子两人都停下了争吵并转而攻击我。5.TheswordofDamocles–anyimminentdanger.达摩克利斯之剑——随时可能降临的危险Althoughthepresidentofthecompanyseemedquitesecure,healwayscomplainedthattherewasaswordofDamocleshangingoverhishead.虽然这位公司老板似乎地位稳固，但他总是抱怨说好像总有一柄达摩克利斯之剑悬在他头顶上似的。6.Pyrrhicvictory-atoocostlyvictory皮拉斯王之胜——一场付出过大代价的胜利Inheavefightingthetroopsmanagedtorecapturethehill,butitcouldonlybeconsideredaPyrrhicvictory.在这场激烈的战斗中，这支军队成功地夺回了那座山头，但这场胜利只能说是一场付出过大代价的战斗。7.Awetblanket-onewhospoilsthefun一块湿漉漉的毯子——令人扫兴的人8.Tobeardthelioninhisden-tovisitandopposeapersononhisowngrounds在狮子窝里揪狮子的胡须——在某人的地盘上触犯对方9.Crocodile-insinceretears鳄鱼的眼泪——假慈悲10.Tocarrytheday-towintheapprovalofthemajority占上风——获得多数人的赞同11.SkidRow-disreputablepartoftown,inhabitedbyderelictsandpeople“ontheskid”贫民区——一个市镇名声不好的街区，其居住者是一些被抛弃的人和落魄的人12.Togoupinsmoke-tocometonopracticalresult消失在烟雾中——没有任何实际结果13.Tothrowdownthegauntlet-tochallengesomeone(whenthegauntlet,ormedievalglove,was throwndown,thechallengedonewasrequiredtopickitup)把长手套扔在地上——向某人挑战（当长手套或中世纪手套被扔在地上时，被挑战者将被要求去把它捡起来）1.Feelingnopain-drunk感觉不到痛苦——喝醉了2.Hobson’schoice-tohavenochoiceatall(Mr.Hobsonownedaliverystablebuthedidnotallowthecustomerstopicktheirownhorses)霍布森的选择——没有任何选择（霍布森拥有一家出租马与马车的代养马房，但他不允许客户自选马匹）3.Toruletheroost-tobeincharge,tobemaster(aroostisaperchwheredomesticbirdscansleep)治理鸡棚——当家作主，主宰一切4.Stockintrade-thegoods,tools,andotherrequisitesofaprofession资本——一个行当中的特品、工具和其他必需品5.Totakedownapeg-totaketheconceitoutofabraggart(ship’scolorusedtoberaisedorloweredbypegs-thehigherthecolors,thegreaterthehonor)降低栓子——挫挫那些自吹者的锐气（船上的旗帜通常由固定用的栓子来升降，旗帜越高，荣誉越高）6.Topassthebuck-toevaderesponsibility(the“buck”mayhavebeenapieceofbuckshotpassedfromoneporkerplayertoanothertokeeptrackofwhoseturnitwastodeal)传递“培克”——推卸责任（“培克”可能是扑克玩家们从一个递给另一个的一个筹码形的庄家标志来告知现在轮到谁发牌了）7.Tolionizeaperson-tomakeabigfussoversomeone(thelionsattheTowerofLondonwereconsidereditsmainattraction)把人捧为名流——大肆炒作某人（伦敦塔上的狮子是其主要景观）8.I’mfromMissouri-askeptic,onewhoisnoteasilyconvinced我从密苏里州来——一个怀疑主义者，一个不轻信别人话的人9.Red-letterday-dayofhappiness,timeforrejoicing(holidaysarered-letterdaysonourcalendars)红字之日——喜庆之日，欢庆之时（假日是我们日历上的红字之日）10.Toletsleepingdogslie-toletwellenoughalone,toavoidstirringupoldhostilities让睡着的狗继续躺着——不招惹麻烦，别让旧恨重燃11.Thumb’sdown-signalofrejection(Romanemperorscouldcondemnagladiatorwhofoughtpoorlybyturningtheirthumbsdown)倒竖着大拇指——拒绝的信号（当一位角斗士表现很糟糕时，罗马皇帝会把他的大拇指冲地面竖着来处死这位角斗士）12.Causecelebre-afamouslawcaseorcontroversy一个人所皆知的案件或有争议事件13.Oneswallowdoesnotmakeasummer-don’tjumptoconclusionsbasedonincompleteevidence一燕不成夏（一花独放不是春）——在证据不充足时不要轻易下结论14.Abitterpilltoswallow-ahumiliatingdefeat难以下咽的苦果——一次令人蒙羞的失败15.Anaxtogrind-havingaselfishmotiveinthebackground待磨的斧头——自私企图，个人打算16.Sourgrapes-todisparagesomethingthatyoucannothave(fromAesop’sfableaboutthefoxwhocalledthegrapessourbecausehecouldnotreachthem)酸葡萄——贬低你得不到的东西（来自伊索寓言的一个故事：一只狐狸吃不到葡萄于是说葡萄酸）17.Toswaphorsesinmidstream-tovoteagainstacandidaterunningforreelection,tochangeone’smind中途换赛马——在选举中改变主意，改选某人18.Tocoolone’sheels-tobekeptwaiting坐冷板凳——苦等19.Aredherring-somethingthatdivertsattentionfromthemainissue(aredherringdrawnacrossafox’spathdestroysthescent)熏鲱——转移注意力的东西（一条熏鲱拦过狐狸的路径，破坏了猎物的气味）20.Tospillthebeans-togiveawayasecret把豆子撒了——泄露秘密 1.Tokeepastiffupperlip-tobecourageousinthefaceoftrouble绷紧上唇——面对困难（或危险）表现坚定沉着2.Tohavecoldfeet-tohesitatebecauseoffearoruncertainty双脚冰凉——由于害怕或不确定因素而临阵畏缩3.Tolookagifthorseinthemouth-tobecriticalofapresent(fromthepracticeofjudgingahorse’sagebyhisteeth)看别人送的马的牙齿——对礼物吹毛求疵（来自从马的牙齿来判断它的年龄的习俗）4.Topaythepiper-tobeartheconsequences(fromthestoryofthePiedPiperofHamelin)为风笛手付费——承担后果（来自哈梅林的穿花衣的吹笛手的故事）5.Onthecarpet-beingscolded在地毯上——被训斥6.Toshowone’shand-torevealone’sintentions摊牌——表明自己的真实意图7.Totiltatwindmills-tofightimaginaryenemies(fromDonQuixote)持矛冲刺风车——和假想敌战斗（源于堂吉诃德）8.Tofeatherone’snest-growrichbytakingadvantageofcircumstances用羽毛装饰自己的巢（中饱私囊）——借由周围便利条件发财9.Fair-weatherfriends-unreliable,theyfailoneintimeofdistress酒肉朋友——不可靠的人，他们在朋友陷入困境时抛弃朋友10.Tosowone’swildoats-toleadawild,carefreelife放荡不羁——过一种狂野放纵的生活11.Windfall-unexpectedfinancialgain被风吹落的果子——意外之财12.Totearone’sheartonone’ssleeve-tomakeone’sfeelingsevident流露自己的感情——使感情外露13.Towashdirtylineninpublic-toopenlydiscussprivateaffairs在众目睽睽之下清洗脏兮兮的亚麻布——家丑外扬14.Tosaveface-toavoiddisgrace保全面子——避免丢脸15.Indiasummer-warmautumnweather印地安之夏——小阳春16.Totakethebullbythehorns-tofaceaproblemdirectly抓牛要抓牛角——直面问题17.Thelion’sshare-themajorportion狮子的份额——最大的一份18.Outofthefryingpanintothefire-togofromadifficultsituationtoaworseone跳出油锅又落火坑19.Tokeepthepotboiling-toseethatinterestdoesn’tdiedown让锅一直沸腾——保证兴趣不减20.Toburythehatchet-tomakepeace把短柄小斧埋起来——和解、休战21.Philadelphialawyer-alawyerofoutstandingability费城律师——精明能干的律师22.Togildthelily-topraiseextravagantly给百合花上色——过度赞扬，画蛇添足23.Tostealone’sthunder-toweakenone’spositionbystatingtheargumentbeforethatpersondoes先发制人——通过抢占先机使某人的优势减少24.Woolgathering-absentmindednessordaydreaming捡羊毛——心不在焉或者胡思乱想25.Towhitewash-toconcealdefects,togiveafalselyvirtuousappearancetosomething用石灰水把……刷白——掩盖事实，粉饰错误26.Tobreaktheice-tomakeastartbyovercominginitialdifficulties打破坚冰——通过克服最初的困难开始做事 1.Thegrapevine-asecretmeansofspreadinginformation葡萄藤——秘密传播消息的途径2.Inabeeline-takingthestraightest,shortestroute走蜜蜂的路线——走捷径3.Theworld,theflesh,andthedevil-temptationthatcausemantosin邪念、肉欲、物质享受——使人犯罪的诱惑4.Tomakebrickswithoutstraw-toattempttodosomethingwithouthavingthenecessarymaterials缺了草做不成砖——试图在缺少必要条件的情况下做一件事5.Tohavetheupperhand-togaincontrol占上风——获得控制权6.Todrawinone’shorns-tocheckone’sanger,torestrainoneself减弱自己的号声——抑制自己的怒气，克制自己7.Toputthecartbeforethehorse-toreversetheproperorder,dothingsbackwards把马车放在马前面——本末倒置8.Toturnthetables-toturnasituationtoone’sownadvantage倒转桌子——扭转局面9.Achipofftheoldblock-asonwhoislikehisfather一个模子印出来的——酷似父亲的儿子10.Underthewire-justinline到达终点线——在最后期限之前11.Tobeatlarge-notconfinedorinjail（罪犯）逍遥法外——没有被禁锢或在监狱里12.Togoagainstthegrain-toirritate格格不入——激怒，不爽13.Towinkat–topretendnottosee对……眨眼——假装没看见14.Toplaypossum-totrytofoolsomeone;tomakebelieveoneisasleepordead装傻充愣——愚弄某人，装睡或装死15.It’sanillwindthatblowsnobodygood-someoneusuallybenefitsfromanotherperson’smisfortune凡事皆有利弊——有人通常可以从别人的不幸中获益16.Toknowtheropes-tobefullyacquaintedwiththeprocedures熟悉船上各式缆绳索具——晓得诀窍；懂行17.Behindtheeightball-introuble在八号球后面——处于困境18.Leftholdingthebag-tobelefttosuffertheblame被迫背他人甩掉的包袱——被迫代人受过19.Alickandapromise-todosomethinginahastyandsuperficialmanner草率从事——做事仓促马虎20.Tongueincheek-insincerely脸颊里的舌头——无诚意地21.Totakethewindoutofone’sails-toremovesomeone’sadvantage使某人船帆失去风力——使某人失去优势/盛气凌人的状态22.Twostringstoone’sbow-twomeansofachievingone’saim一弓两弦——实现目标的两种手段（有两手准备）23.Ontenterhooks-inastateofanxiety在拉幅钩上——处在焦虑状态下24.Thefatisinthefire-themischiefisdone油之火中——事情搞糟了25.LikeCaesar’swife-abovesuspicion像凯撒的妻子——不容置疑的26.Pleabargain-toagreetopleadguiltytoalesserchargesoastoavoidtrialforamoreseriousoffense.认罪辩诉协议——同意（由被告）承认轻罪以避免审讯中被判处更严重的处罚27.Inapplepieorder-inneatorder,goodcondition以苹果派的顺序——整齐的，完美的 1.Applepolishing-tryingtogainfavorbygiftsorflattery擦亮苹果——试图用送礼或奉承获得好处2.TheDraconianCode-averyseveresetofrules德拉古法典——一套非常严酷的法律3.Thedistaffside-women母系的——女人4.Onthequivive-onthealert查问口令——警戒着，警惕着